Jewelry prong with an internal setting

ABSTRACT

A setting prong is provided that includes an internal setting for mounting a stone in the prong itself, in addition to the stone mounted by the prongs in the overall setting.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention deals with stone setting prongs and more specifically, prongs with an internal setting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies and emeralds are usually set (held in place) in jewelry by prongs of metal at the stone's corners. The prongs are typically long, thin pieces of metal bent in at their tips to retain the stone therein. The prongs are typically unsightly and unattractive, taking away from the overall appearance of the piece. In addition, their structural integrity is questionable at best. The slightest deformation in the metal compromises the strength of the setting and providing room for the stone to come loose and fall out.

A number of alternative stone setting arrangements exist that hide or eliminate the prongs altogether. One example is the invisible setting. With an invisible setting, the metal holding the stones in place cannot be seen, and is therefore invisible, because the setting is hidden by the stone itself. Typically, a groove in the stone fits a metal slot in the jewelry that holds it in place. The strength of the setting is much more secure and once set, the stone cannot come loose. There are, however, disadvantages with this method of setting jewels. Once an invisibly set jewelry piece is made, its stones cannot be changed.

Settings are rings without a main stone. The prongs are included on the ring, but do not have anything mounted. The advantages of settings include the availability of options, a customer may pick and choose the stone for the setting. Even settings with stones already set may be changed, stones can be swapped out. Traditional prong settings, therefore, have certain advantages that make them desirable for continued use.

To date, there have been no attempts to provide a stronger and harder setting prong less susceptible to deformation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,063 to Slowinski purports to disclose a star-shaped precious stone mounting with a plurality of N compartments, each one having a precious stone mounted therein. The arrangement is meant to give the appearance of an integral, single, large, star-shaped stone. It does not, and cannot serve as a setting for an additional stone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, gemstone setting prongs are provided with internal settings, inside the prongs themselves. The prongs may be shaped to accommodate any specific cut, including marquis, brilliant, princess, and emerald cuts, among others. A number of the inventive prongs together provide a setting for a single stone, in addition to the ones set in the prongs themselves.

In more detail, the gemstone setting prong according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end attached to a base, an open interior defining an interior wall, the interior wall constructed and arranged to hold a gemstone therein, and a tip at the top end. The interior wall may be constructed and arranged to accommodate a marquis, princess, brilliant, or emerald cut gemstone.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a gemstone setting is provided comprising a base having a plurality of prongs extending upwardly from the base at a specific angle. Each prong further comprises a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end being attached to the base. In addition, a hollowed out interior defines an interior wall constructed and arranged to hold a gemstone therein. A tip at the top end provides the means to hold a center stone in place.

In accordance with further aspects of the embodiment, the prongs are used to set an additional stone in the interior space defined between the prongs by bending the tips in. This embodiment may accommodate different shaped stones as well, including a marquis, princess, brilliant, and emerald cuts.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, a gemstone setting comprises a plurality of prongs, each of the plurality further comprising an internal setting with the plurality of prongs together providing a center stone setting.

In accordance with further aspects of the third embodiment, each of the plurality of prongs are connected to a base and further comprises a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end attached to the base, a hollowed out interior defining an interior wall, the interior wall constructed and arranged to hold a gemstone therein, and a tip at the top end. A center stone is set into the center stone setting by bending the tips in at the stone's corners to hold it in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a gemstone setting with prongs according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the setting in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the setting of FIG. 1 with stones set in the prongs.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the setting of FIG. 3 with an additional center stone set therein.

FIG. 4 a is a cross-sectional view of the prong in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 b shows the prong of FIG. 4 a with a stone placed therein.

FIG. 4 c shows the prong of FIG. 4 b with the stone set therein.

FIG. 5 depicts a setting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention for emerald cut stones.

FIG. 6 depicts the setting if FIG. 5 with a center stone mounted therein.

FIG. 7 depicts a setting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention for round princess cut stones.

FIG. 8 shows the setting of FIG. 7 with a center stone mounted therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, stone setting prongs are provided with internal settings, inside the prongs themselves. The prongs may be shaped to accommodate any specific cut, including marquis, brilliant, princess, and emerald cuts, among others. A number of the inventive prongs together provide a setting for a single stone, in addition to the ones set in the prongs themselves.

FIG. 1 shows a gemstone setting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention from a top-down perspective. A number of prongs 10 provide a setting for one stone (not shown) secured in place by the prong tips 10.2 which are bent in to hold a stone in place according to well-known setting methods. Each prong 10 has a hollowed out interior that serves as an internal setting 10.1 in which a stone is set. The hollowed out interior is defined by an interior wall into which a stone will be placed. Each prong 10 is attached to a base at their respective bottom ends. Preferably, the bezel setting method, which is well-known in the art, is used to mount a stone into the setting 10.1

The above example shows a prong setting configuration of one stone in each prong. It should be noted that different configurations are possible with more than one stone being set in each prong. In addition, the number of prongs may vary. This example shows four prongs, however, more or less may be used within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the setting of FIG. 1 from the side. With respect to the horizontal plane at the base of the setting, each prong 10 is positioned at a specific angle 20. Preferably, each prong 10 is positioned at the same angle 20. In addition, each prong 10 should be the same length and each internal setting 10.1 the same size to provide a symmetrical setting arrangement.

FIG. 3 shows the prongs of FIG. 1 with stones 30 set therein. In this example, the prongs are shaped to accommodate marquis cut stones 30. Each stone 30 is set into the internal setting 10.1, one stone 30 for each prong 10 in this example. After the stones 30 are set into the prongs 10, an additional stone is set onto the prongs 10 using their tips 10.2.

FIG. 4 shows the setting of FIG. 3 with the additional center stone 40 set therein within the interior space between the prongs 10. The center stone 40 is placed in between the prongs 10 with its culet, or bottom tip, set into the bottom of the setting so that it rests in an upright position. The tips 10.2 of the prongs 10 are then bent in to hold the stone 40 in place at its upper corner.

Preferably, the prong stones 30 are bezel set into the prongs 10. Ideally, a bezel set stone sits securely on a seat or bearing cut into the bezel. The seat should be the same size and shape as the stone. If the stone is cut larger than the seat and metal is then folded over to keep it in place, the stone will loosen quickly. To bezel set a stone, a jeweler, once the stone sits securely on its seat or bezel, folds a metal lip over the stone along its top, peripheral edge to keep it in place.

FIG. 4 a shows a cross-sectional view of the prong 10 taken along line 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The internal setting 10.1 forms a seat for a bezel setting together with metal lip protrusions 10.3 that will be bent in to trap a stone in the setting 10.1 once a stone is securely placed into the setting 10.1.

FIG. 4 b shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 300 of FIGS. 3 and 4. where the stone 30 is placed into the internal bezel setting 10.1 but not set. Preferably, in accordance with commonly accepted jewelry standards and practice, the sides of the stone 30 should contact the setting 10.1 along its entire side length to ensure a tight and secure fit. This method of setting a stone is well-known and practiced by virtually every jeweler.

After the stone 30 is properly placed in the setting, with the sides of the stone 30 contacting the interior surface of the setting 10.1 along the stone's 30 entire side face, the metal protrusions 10.3 are bent over the stone as depicted in FIG. 4 c. The stone 30 is now set in the prong by trapping the stone 30 in the prong 10 on all sides.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment for accommodating emerald cut stones 55. The prongs 50 are rectangular-shaped to accommodate rectangular emerald cut stones 55. It should be noted that the stones 55 may be square-shaped as well. The internal settings 50.1 are appropriately shaped to accommodate the rectangular shape of the stones 55. Again each prong 50 has a tip 50.2 for holding in a center stone.

FIG. 6 shows the setting of FIG. 5 with a center stone 57 mounted therein. The tips 50.2 of each prong 50 are bent in to hold the center stone 57 in place.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment for accommodating round princess cut stones 75. The prongs 70 are rectangular-shaped to accommodate rectangular emerald cut stones 75. It should be noted that the stones 75 may be square-shaped as well. The internal settings 70.1 are appropriately shaped to accommodate the rectangular shape of the stones 75. Again each prong 70 has a tip 70.2 for holding in a center stone.

FIG. 8 shows the setting of FIG. 7 with a center stone 77 mounted therein. The tips 70.2 of each prong 70 are bent in to hold the center stone 77 in place.

A setting according to an embodiment of the present invention described above may be used on a ring, bracelet, earring, necklace, or any other piece of jewelry on which stones are usually set.

With respect to the prongs in each of the embodiments described herein, the thickness of the prong should be around the same as that of the stone, about 85-115%, preferably 90-110% and most preferably 95-105%. The width of the prong should be about 10-100%, preferably 10-50% and most preferably 10-25% larger than the stone width. The prong length, excluding the tip, should be at least 105%, preferably 110-150% and most preferably 110-125% the length of the stone.

With respect to the dimensions of the overall setting, FIG. 9 shows a top-down view of the silhouette of a setting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The silhouette is merely representative of the dimensions of the setting and not indicative of any features or limitations, it is merely intended to convey the symmetrical nature of the setting's construction.

The setting should be symmetrical about both the x-axis 81 and the y-axis 83. The shape shown here assumes four prongs, however, more may be used, in which case the setting would be symmetrical about its center point rather than the x and y axes. The length 82 of the setting is substantially similar to the width 80. In this way, the prong tips are positioned an equal distance from the center of the setting and provide the most secure setting arrangement for the center stone. Because each prong is equally spaced from the center, and contacting the top of the center stone at the same, mirrored position on each side, the work load of keeping the stone set therein is equally distributed to each prong tip.

FIG. 10 shows a side view silhouette of the setting in FIG. 9. From this viewpoint, the setting is symmetrical about the z-axis 94; the height 90 and width 80 may differ. The width 80 should be at least 50%, preferably 75-110% and most preferably 80-95% of the height 90. These dimensions will usually be selected based on the cut of the center stone to be accommodated by the setting, and it is to be expected that these ranges may change outside of the preferred embodiment to accommodate stone shapes not yet invented.

In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense. 

1. A gemstone setting prong comprising: a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end attached to a base; an open interior defining an interior wall, the interior wall constructed and arranged to hold a gemstone therein; a tip at the top end.
 2. The gemstone setting prong of claim 1 wherein the interior wall is constructed and arranged to hold a marquis cut gemstone.
 3. The gemstone setting prong of claim 1 wherein the interior wall is constructed and arranged to hold a princess cut gemstone.
 4. The gemstone setting prong of claim 1 wherein the interior wall is constructed and arranged to hold a brilliant cut gemstone.
 5. The gemstone setting prong of claim 1 wherein the interior wall is constructed and arranged to hold an emerald cut gemstone.
 6. A gemstone setting comprising: a base having a plurality of prongs extending upwardly from the base at a specific angle; wherein each prong further comprises: a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end attached to the base; an open interior defining an interior wall, the interior wall constructed and arranged to hold a gemstone therein; a tip at the top end.
 7. The gemstone setting of claim 6 wherein the plurality of prongs are used to set an additional stone in an interior space defined by the prongs.
 8. The gemstone setting of claim 6 wherein the interior wall is constructed and arranged to hold a marquis cut gemstone.
 9. The gemstone setting of claim 6 wherein the interior wall is constructed and arranged to hold a princess cut gemstone.
 10. The gemstone setting of claim 6 wherein the interior wall is constructed and arranged to hold a brilliant cut gemstone.
 11. The gemstone setting of claim 6 wherein the interior wall is constructed and arranged to hold an emerald cut gemstone.
 12. The gemstone setting of claim 6 wherein the tips on each of the plurality of prongs are bent in to set a center stone.
 13. A gemstone setting comprising a plurality of prongs, each of the plurality further comprising an internal setting with the plurality of prongs together providing a center stone setting.
 14. The gemstone setting of claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of prongs are connected to a base.
 15. The gemstone setting of claim 14 wherein the each of the plurality further comprises: a bottom end and a top end, the bottom end attached to the base; an open interior defining an interior wall, the interior wall constructed and arranged to hold a gemstone therein; a tip at the top end.
 16. The gemstone setting of claim 14 wherein a center stone is set into the center stone setting by the tips. 